Springfield Armory SA35 - First Thoughts and First Shots

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

I love this gun. I was able to buy two from my FFL when he got seven f them in stock. I have consecutive serial numbers. I bought new CNC extractors from BHSpring solutions and also the safety sears. But over 3,000 rounds and I have yet to replace the factory extractors. My serial numbers started with 18xxx. I read that around the 11000-12000 serial number range, is when Springfield fixed their flawed extractors.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Mine is much later in number so hopefully it will be a good one to.

[@Darknightfantom]

Exelent

[@maxon-m3c]

Just picked one up. Love at first sight! Long time hi-power fan. Can't wait to get it out for first shots.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I'm sure she will shoot great for you.

[@markchambers2812]

Good morning, watching this again, seriously thinking about carrying daily. Ty Mark

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thanks for watching. I think it would be a great carry gun if you could find a good holster for it.

[@Stephen-wb3wf]

Might be foolish but despite never even holding it, this gun is on my wishlist based on the looks alone. Simply a work of art and so much style. Think it will pair nicely with my cz75b. 2 oldies but goodies. I will rent before buying at least but i already know im getting it lol.

[@tennis9811]

Saw this through the glass at a bass pro and bought it a day later. Haven’t shot it yet but I can’t stop learning it - coming from a Hellcat and 19x for a few years and about a couple thousand rounds

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I hope you like yours!

[@kevinoconnell1855]

Good review. Thank you.

[@kevinhullinger8743]

It’s an awesome gun with ergonomics second to none!

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I just wish it came with more mags.

[@kevinhullinger8743]

@@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867 true but the price point is very good.

[@dgiorgi2001]

Good, honest review especially about the trigger reset and the price with one mag. I owned a Browning renaissance hi power, never like that it would not shoot if the mag was removed. Thank you for the review.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thank you for watching! Im glad you liked it.

[@normbittner3762]

Next on my list to purchase. Very good video- I've subscribed.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Awesome, thank you!

[@johnkizziah108]

Have had one for awile now love the gun. The extractor broke replaced it with a aftermarket extractor. Mine has a real mushy safety need to fix that cant stand the mushy safety. Shoots pretty accurate

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Crazy that you already broke parts on the gun. I would expect them to last several 1000s of rounds before any issues.

[@Zzero5728]

Steel and Walnut for the win!

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thanks for watching!

[@coupesix]

Hi point clone lol….nice review and I agree 1 magazine 🤔. I’ve never heard of just one.

[@Incubussublime311]

Hi point?????

[@MimeswithRhymes]

Ive had mine for about a month, shot a match with it last weekend. Seemed real accurate, no issues at all except for me accidentally actuating the safety. I can’t thumb the safety down when shooting, hurts too much.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

That’s awesome that you shot a match with it. Luckily I have had any issues with the safety.

[@johnellis4129]

I have two of them. One in the 34xx serial range and the other in the 69xx range. I've only fired about three boxes total in them and love them. One of them will see a 41AE barrel before too long hopefully. They will both be complete custom builds before I am done with them.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

What kind of build are you planning?

[@johnellis4129]

@@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867 XS night sights, APEX low profile magwell & 19 round mags, match grade barrels, and BHsprings reliability package and other BH upgrades atm.

[@dukedriftwood]

Good rant on the lack of magazines and manual.. lol... I'm in total agreement..... as to the trigger... Hi Pwr triggers are just different... don't overthink it...just let time and familiarity take you to a new comfort level... I have a browning HP... and thinking about picking up one of these.... some early reliability issues have kept me waiting... maybe I'll just "go for it" and get an exdtractor from Cylinder and Slide to have on hand.... more expense though.. ugh. SA should have cleaned up the imperfections by now. My 2 cents on this firearm... wondering what the late, great Stephen Camp would say about it... miss him.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thanks for watching

[@triggerman1092]

They need to fix that front sight. I cant believe they let that leave the factory like that. Looks like the finish didnt take there. I just bought a new sds inglis hi power and its georgous. And it came with 2 mags

[@biglazybilly]

this pistol is like the 1911 both were designed by the same guy. I own both great side arms.

[@joshuaashenhart2803]

The gunk on the front sight is red locktite. I found that out when I put tritium sights on mine.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Good to know!

[@MyAccount-b3j]

Very nice review, thank you for sharing your experience. How about the hammer? does it hit your hand when it comes back to the ready to fire position?

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

No hammer bite at all. I thought it might but it hasnt ever got me.

[@mj740]

I got my SA-35 when they first came out serial number in the 5000's I got 3 mags with mine

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Awesome you got the extra mags. But sometime between you getting yours and me getting mine SA cheaped out

[@BT2SS]

Mine is even earlier 3K serial number. I only got 1 magazine

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Springfield never dished out more than one magazine for that gun. If anyone got more than one magazine with the SA-35, it’s because their FFL sold it to them.

[@mj740]

​@@colt10mmsecurity68 in my case obviously you're wrong also I paid 680.00 for it as well with 3 mags!!!

[@mj740]

​@@BT2SS Did you pay under 700.00 for it? I paid 680.00 with 3 mags

[@PC-vq5ud]

Was that a machining mark on the front of the slide? John Browning designed his 9mm to shoot 124-125 grain ammo.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I dont know for sure what you are talking about with the machine mark. It seems to shoot pretty spot on with 115s.

[@sheepdog1102]

Nice looking pistol and good shooting. Torque those grip screws with an inch pound torque wrench and they will stay tight. I can’t tell what the torque is because it depends on the size. 6/48 screws are 22 inch pounds.😊

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Its not a big deal they came a little lose and I was able to get them snug.

[@aaustria3716]

nice pistol. good shooting. looks like it doesn t recoil much. since its sao i think trigger should be pretty good. hoping to pick one up sometime.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I say get one if you can

[@rsc557]

I think I'm going to buy this toy I have a browning high power original but this look good

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Go for it.

[@boostedbavarian]

Every gun ive ever bought had a spare mag or two. S.A is getting out of hand. The new trp is too expensive for it basically being an operator with front strap checkering. Not worth an extra $450. Their qc issues are abundant, but they do take care of it to be fair. I am kinda losing my springfield fan boy status and quickly. I sent 6 out of 10 mc operators back for ambi safety issues in december. Want one of these, but not sure if they are reliable.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I have about 300-350 rounds in mine so far and its been great! 100% no issues. I do have some mags on order from Midway I'm waiting to get.

[@XTrooper3936]

It's like the plague. Most Colt 1911 pistol models now come with only one magazine. Ugh!

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Its so stupid they are only coming with one

[@FranciscoGarcia-kr4xc]

They are Not stupid. They are being Very Cheap!!!​@@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867

[@royseleech3524]

Accurate for an ole skool design, you are good shot too

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thanks! She is a shooter for sure.

[@markodell5466]

Omg get on with shooting and testing!

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I'll get there just keep your pants on

[@LoneStarLawman]

There are still today, Browning Hi-Powers being used by police and military in a fair number of countries. Old design, like the 1911A1, but obsolete? Hardly. By the way, Browning would never have put a magazine disconnect, or magazines that dont eject easily, if the French government, who he was making them for wanted it. Strange, that the French government changed their mind, and decided not to honor their contract with Browning. Browning then contracted with the Belgin government. I have to believe that if Browning had his way, his pistol, would of had all the features of the Springfield Armory SA-35 Hi-Power. That is why it is a PROVEN design. Definitely not obsolete.

[@AirborneMOC031]

Magazine disconnects did not end with the French government. The S&W 4006 and S&W 5906, made here in America 50 years later also have magazine disconnects. Oddly enough, the SAS, FBI HRT, and other high end groups whose job was to deal with terrorists didn't decide to remove the disconnect. Possibly because by simply actually shooting and training with the pistol, the trigger pull ends up at around 5 lbs and the magazines all drop free. Since revolvers have fallen out of favor, shooters today seem to be unaware that revolver actions also improved with range time. All that said, nobody knows what JMB would supposedly have done, because he had very little actual involvement in the design of this pistol - he was only briefly involved after the project began and then moved in a different direction which resulted in two very different semiautomatic 9mm pistol designs which he patented. The vast majority of the design work was done by Dieudonné Saive, a Belgian who was a gifted firearms designer in his own right.

[@LoneStarLawman]

@AirborneMOC031 Your right. We will never know exactly what JMB would have done in manufacturing the Hi-Power. You can only look at JMB'S track record of making semiautomatic pistols that did not have magazine disconnects on them, like the 1911, 1903 .32 caliber pistol, and 1908 .380. Many others. Seems to be a logical assumption.

[@AirborneMOC031]

@@LoneStarLawman As mentioned earlier, JMB had very little to do with the design of the High Power - but what he did was the same as always. He provided what the customer specified - like the grip safety on the 1911. Sauve began the project by developing the staggered magazine to meet French contract requirements and making changes to (if my memory is correct) the existing FN 1903 design. When the French added additional demands to the project and didn't want Sauve's original concept built around his double stack magazine and that blowback action, FN sent it over to the US (meaning by boat at the time) for Browning to have a go at. One of the things the French added was a demand for a locked breech - possibly why Sauve's prototype went over to Browning to have a go at improving it so it could meet French requirements. Browning on the record thought the staggered magazine was a very bad idea - as far as I'm aware he didn't say whether he thought the magazine disconnect (or the grip safety) were also very bad ideas. So we know today that JMB was wrong in his belief that double stacked magazines were a bad idea and apparently liked striker fired handguns better than hammer fired handguns - if we're going to go with what we think are logical conclusions. Browning produced two attempts at meeting French requirements - both were striker fired with no hammer. Without going to look at the two patents he filed on his two designs, I don't recall whether they had any additional safeties, but I believe one had a rotating bolt and the other may have also been a simple blow back design. Nothing in the mechanism suggests they were a step in the development of the HP design - Browning took a fresh shot at it using Sauve's magazine design. The French were shown Brownings' two designs and rejected them as they had Sauve's original design. Browning sold his two patents for the pistol to Colt, who never put either into production. You can find both patents online for viewing - there is nothing in the mechanism of those pistols that would suggest they were an intermediate step in the development of the High Power. Those two striker fired pistols that JMB developed were (as far as is known) his last involvement with FN's French pistol project. All the design work after that was 100% Sauve. The French did look at one version, the FN Grand Rendement in about 1929, but passed on that one as well. After Browning had given it a go, the French repeatedly changed requirements for the pistol resulting in changes to the project pistol being made in four different years between about 1924 and 1929 in the 1920's - three of those changes were made after Brownings death. A few more changes were made by Sauve after 1929 when the French started looking elsewhere and FN hoped to salvage the work done on the project by coming up with a pistol they could sell to some other military. So other than knowing JMB wouldn't have had a double stack magazine if he'd had his way and apparently didn't like hammer fired handguns, we don't know what he thought of the magazine connect. We could guess that he would have preferred a completely different striker fired mechanism if told to make it to his specifications. For all the tiny details including pictures, the price of Anthony VanderLinden's book on FN pistols will give you the entire story in detail, starting somewhere around page 260. www.amazon.com/Browning-Pistols-Shaped-World-History/dp/0970799799

[@LoneStarLawman]

Wow! That is very interesting. I guess most people reading your comments, including me, will have to take your interpretation, of the development of the hi-power since the book you provided in the link, is $247 at Amazon! Geez!

[@AirborneMOC031]

@@LoneStarLawman It's a logical assumption if you can explain why he didn't put the 1911 grip safety on the pistol patents he sold to Winchester after France rejected his two follow designs after rejecting Saive's original design. And why those two pistols were striker fired, rather than hammer fired like the 1911 and other pistols you mention are.

[@mikekillin1860]

Can't decide fn high-power cz 75 or that one good review

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I have had both and I like the Hi-power more.

[@martinmckee3006]

Does the springfield sa 35 have a intergal locking system?

[@roninpride]

Nope

[@tacticalbt1023]

Only one mag!! What! Nice review tho

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Yeah one mag is some major BS if you ask me

[@BT2SS]

My front sight has the exact same thing. I’m pretty sure it’s excess loctite

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I wasnt sure if it was a loctite or a dried lube to push the front sight on.

[@carlboren2299]

Never heard so much crap over trigger. I love the trigger on my SA- 35. I was able to afford mags for IDPA matches. Look at double stack 2011 $1500 pistols with a single mag. Complaints

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Single mag for any gun is just wrong. Trigger is different but not bad on the SA-35

[@wc587]

extra mags from SA are almost $40 ea.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Yeah its pretty sucky. I bought some Mac-Gar mags at around 28 each for it.

[@Lexicologist1971]

Mecgar makes the mags for Springfield.

[@markchambers2812]

I saw 2 mags in a box at gun shop

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Maybe they saw my video and changed LOL.

[@tominmo8865]

A bedside gun should have the options of a light and an optic. For anything else, I am comfortable with neither. I have an SA-35 also, SN 26xxx, bought a few months ago, and really like it.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I really like mine as well.

[@markchambers2812]

I think you flinched

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

I do that sometimes.

[@rsc557]

All the gun companies want to keep our money. I bought a Colt 38 Super for 1400 dollars and it came with only one magazine.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Thats crazy for that price

[@rhinohorn99]

My 1972 BHP is more reliable than the SA-35 I purchased a few months back. I guess I’m the unfortunate one that got an SA-35 that FTE every darn round. Anybody wanna trade for a Taurus?

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Sorry to hear that. Have you thought about sending it in for repair?

[@rhinohorn99]

@@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867 sure did. Sent it out about 8days ago. Waiting to hear back. Hopefully it’s taken care of. I absolutely love to fire it. Fingers crossed

[@grominwithrob1339]

1 magazine with a $699 gun. Pretty sad.

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

Yeah its pretty crappy

[@russjenkins5226]

Hi point!!! 😢😅

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

HI Power, Hi Point I think we all know what I meant LOL

[@cw57mu]

Just bought one..waiting on the fbi to approve

[@arkansasoutdoorschannel1867]

They are good guns for sure.